Obituary – Everton FC Heritage Society

18

Jun

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1960-1969, Latest, Obituary, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer, Steve Zocek

Mick Gannon Remembered

2 February 1943 – 13 June 2024 Rob Sawyer Everton FC Heritage Society has learned of the passing last week of former player Mick Gannon. Born 2 February 1943, Mick was raised with his nine siblings on Scotland Road, with Cilla White (later Black) as a near neighbour. He joined Everton straight from school, signing as a professional soon after his seventeenth birthday in 1960, and learning his trade under the likes of coach Les Shannon. The defender was given three senior starts by Harry Catterick, all at left-back, at the tail end of the 1961/62 season, his debut coming…

16

Jun

By Steve Zocek

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1960-1969, Articles, Latest, Obituary, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer, Steve Zocek

Remembering Frank D’Arcy

8 December 1946 - 15 June 2024 Speaking to Steve Zocek in 2013, with an introduction by Rob Sawyer Everton FC Heritage Society members were saddened to learn of the death, at seventy-seven, of Frank D’Arcy - one of the Blues’ youth products who made it through to Harry Catterick’s highly-polished first team in the late 1960s. The Liverpool Schoolboys player joined the Blues as a centre-half straight from school in the summer of 1962, turning professional two years later. At left-back he was an FA Youth Cup winner with the Toffees in 1965. In the quarter-final of the competition…

Kevin Campbell – An Everton Talisman Remembered

15

Jun

By Rob Sawyer

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2020-2029, Articles, Latest, Obituary, Players, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Kevin Campbell – An Everton Talisman Remembered

Rob Sawyer Sometimes, fate throws a football club and player together in times of mutual adversity and it just clicks. Witness Howard Kendall’s 1983 roll of the dice with Andy Gray, a player whose salad days were thought to be long behind him. So it was, also, when Kevin Campbell rolled up at L4 in 1999. On England U21 duty Campbell, born in February 1970, came through the ranks at Arsenal in his native London, having loan spells at Leyton Orient and Leicester City to aid his development. His first team debut came against Nottingham Forest in 1988, and he…

11

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1960-1969, 1970-1979, Articles, Latest, Mike Royden, Obituary, Players, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Jimmy Husband – An Appreciation

Jimmy Husband (15 October 1947 – 9 March 2024) An Appreciation The sad news of the death of Jimmy Husband comes just weeks after the passing of John Hurst, his teammate in the 1965 FA Youth Cup-winning side and the legendary championship-winning team of 1969/70. Harry Catterick spread the net wide in his search for the best young talent in the 1960s, and was hot on the trail of a precocious attacking talent from Newcastle, who had England schoolboy honours, by the name of James Husband. But Everton were not the only side keen to get the teenager’s signature. Jimmy,…

18

Feb

By Mike Royden

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Tribute to John Hurst

John Hurst John Hurst, one of the club’s most cultured centre-backs (and the previous Dixie Dean Memorial Award recipient) passed away recently, so it was fitting that his wife and daughters were present at our Dixie Dean Memorial Award evening as special guests. They joined other audience members in watching a moving video presentation, which captured the essence of this fine footballer and lovely man, who epitomised all that is great about Everton. Rob Sawyer then shared tributes from Joe Royle and Colin Harvey to their friend and former teammate, before asking Derek Temple to join him onstage to speak…

19

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

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1960-1969, 1970-1979, Articles, Latest, Obituary, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

John Hurst (1947-2024)

A Tribute by Rob Sawyer ‘The Last of the Corinthians’ is a phrase used to describe one of Everton’s great captains, Brian Labone. However, John Hurst, his defensive partner in Everton’s great side of the late 1960s, embodied many of the same qualities that gave Labone his sobriquet. John in the mid 1960s Like Roger Kenyon, who would also come through the ranks at Bellefield and be unlucky not to collect full international honours, John hailed from Blackpool. A centre-forward and inside-forward as a youth, the leggy Lancastrian had represented Blackpool schoolboys and also received England youth honours. Harry Catterick…

14

Nov

By Rob Sawyer

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Barry Hewitt (1953-2023) – A Tribute

by Rob Sawyer, with members of Everton FC Heritage Society Members of Everton FC Heritage Society were saddened to learn of the death of Barry Hewitt on 12 November 2023 from cancer. He may have been Suffolk-born, but his devotion to the Toffees was absolute for more than half a century, and he was a great friend to the Society. Barry was born in Ipswich on 19 May 1953. Always keen on football, he had been a talented goalkeeper in his youth – he represented Suffolk schools and had a trail at Ipswich Town but chose not to pursue it…

25

Oct

By Ken Rogers

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Bill Kenwright CBE 1945-2023

Our condolences go to Bill Kenwright’s family and loved ones, plus all those affected by his recent passing. Ken Rogers, Chairman of Everton FC Heritage Society, spoke to Paul Salt of Radio Merseyside Sport about his time spent with the late Everton chairman when working at the Echo: (22 mins in): Below is the official statement released by the club on the Chairman's passing; RIP, Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE

26

Nov

By Rob Sawyer

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Latest, Mike Royden, Obituary, Players, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Neil Robinson (1957-2022)

A Tribute The sudden, unexpected, passing of Neil Robinson, at the age of sixty-five, has come as a shock to Everton FC Heritage Society members and the fanbases of his former clubs. Neil had the Bluest of credentials. Born into a family of Evertonians, he spent his early years round the corner from Goodison Park on Spellow Lane. His father, Jim, had been head barman at the Winslow Hotel on Goodison Road in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Sadly Jim was paralysed in an industrial accident when Neil was a child. The Robinson family in 1957, Neil the infant…

21

Nov

By Rob Sawyer

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Dr John Rowlands (1939-2022)

Everton FC Heritage Society members were saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. John Rowlands at his home in Formby on 19 November at the age of eighty-three. John hailed from the north east of England, supporting Middlesbrough FC since 1946. He arrived on Merseyside, via a spell in London, in the 1970s, and worked in general practice in Maghull until retirement in 2002. He first saw Everton play at Goodison Park in 1971 and developed a great fondness of the club. A sports and local history enthusiast, he penned a number of books, including a biography of his…